2015-2020 Strategic Planning Goals and Priorities

Revised: January 8, 2015

The University of Wisconsin-Madison General Library System has identified three core principles that underlie all of our work: inclusiveness, collaboration, and communication.  

Inclusiveness: We foster inclusiveness and diversity—regardless of background or philosophy—and ensure an environment of mutual respect and dignity.

Collaboration: We seek partnerships and collaborations to promote innovation in ideas and approaches that support research, teaching, and learning.

Communication: We are committed to an environment of open and respectful communication and information sharing.

Goal 1: Establish assessment as a continual and integral program

Metric: Assessment plans for each Associate University Librarian portfolio have been established

1. Develop comprehensive disciplinary and research profiles based on user assessments
2. Develop ongoing assessments for resources and services

Goal 2: Strengthen collections program to address strategic campus and consortial goals

Metrics: 1) Increase centralization of the budget; 2) Fund-based collection development policies have been created

1. Develop greater flexibility within collections budget
2. Develop collection and preservation strategies to support disciplines across subject areas and content types

Goal 3: Develop comprehensive scholarly communications program

Metric: A coordinated program, with identified leadership, has been established

1. Hire staff and establish leadership for the scholarly communications program
2. Establish internal and external networks of scholarly communication stakeholders

Goal 4: Identify and invest in the expertise needed to advance and sustain a modern research library

Metrics: 1) A competency-based inventory has been completed for all permanent employees; 2) The degree to which identified strategic needs/gaps have been filled

1. Implement a flexible organizational and administrative structure to engender cross-department work
2. Fill gaps in talent and competencies to meet goals and strategies

Goal 5: Capitalize on efficiencies to provide high quality services and spaces

Metrics: 1) Increase the number of repurposed learning and collaboration spaces; 2) Increase the collection budget by reallocating dollars from staff lines; 3) Reallocate resources currently used for processing and managing print management

1. Create and initiate plan to consolidate libraries
2. Leverage technologies to advance and support library services and programs

Goal 6: Expand capacity for providing library services in a networked environment

Metric: Increase in user satisfaction

1. Develop strategies to more closely integrate library services into campus and consortial programs

Goal 7: Increase budget flexibilities to meet Library priorities

Metrics: 1) Increase the amount of discretionary dollars available for strategic priorities; 2) Increase new money generated through donations, revenue, grants, etc.

1. Realign overall allocations
2. Establish priorities for fundraising and development
3. Identify revenue generation opportunities in the Libraries

Finalized and approved by the GLS Executive Group on January 7, 2015